But in the mean time, would our =Nobility= and =Gentry=, who delight in Plays, but allow themselves so much time, as to read over what is extant on this Subject in =English=, as, =Ben Johnson's= Discoveries; =Roscommon='s Translation of =Horace='s Art of Poetry; =Rapin='s Reflections on =Aristotle='s Treatise of Poetry; =Longinus= of the loftineß of Speech; =Boyleau='s Art of Poetry; =Hedelin='s Art of the Stage; =Euremont='s Essays; =Rimer='s Tragedies of the last Age considered; =Dryden='s Drammatick Essay; and several others; though they understood none but their native Language, and consequently could not read what =Vossius=, =Heinsius=, =Scaliger=, =Plutarch=, =Athenæus=, =Titius Giraldus=, =Castelvetro=, =Lope de Vega=, =Corneille=, =Menardiere=, and others which have written to the same purpose in several Languages; yet those which are to be met with in =English=, are sufficient to inform them, both in the =excellency= of the Poetick Art, and the Rules which Poets follow, with the Reasons of them: They would then find their Pleasure encrease with their Knowledge; and they would have the greater satisfaction in seeing a =correct Play=, by how much they were capable (by the help of these Rules) to discern the =Beauties= of it; and the greater value for a =good= Poet, by how much they were sensible of the Pains and Study requisite to bring such a Poem to perfection. This would advance the fame of =good= Poets, and procure them =Patrons= amongst the =Nobility= and =Gentry=, and through their =Emulation= to exceed each other, =Poetry= might in a few Years be advanced to the =same= Perfection that it was in formerly, at =Rome= and =Athens=. GERARD LANGBAINE. ERRATA. By reason of my great distance from the Preß, several confederate =Errata's= are to be met with throughout; but the most material are these which follow: Which the Reader is desired to Pardon and Correct. =In the Catalogue it self.= Page 6. =The Wits= is left out, a Play of Sir =W. Davenant=. p. 10. =Courageous Turk=, &c. for 4o read 8o p. 11. =Play of Love=, &c. dele 4o, for I never saw but the first Play. p. 13. for =Hymenes= read =Hymenæi=. p. 16. for =Antiquarary= read =Antiquary=. p. 17. =Heyre= for 8o read 4o. p. 25. for =Loyal Brother= read =Revenger's Tragedy=. =In the Notes.=